My trip to the emergency hospital

The pain in my neck got increasingly worse yesterday and was traveling down my back and sides. Mom finally distracted me with a treat and started carefully peeking through my hair at my skin. She found open seeping sores and decided after consulting the advice of her Leerburg friends that I should go to the hospital.

The DR seems to think I had a nasty reaction to the shampoo from my recent grooming for lack of any other reasonable explanation. He had to sedate me just to get a look at me and then he clipped my hair off, It's not pretty.

They gave me an injection of ketoprofen and an injection of Cefazolin, and sent us home with three prescriptions: rimadyl, Simplicef, and topical animax cream.

I hope my hair grows back real fast. It's cold here in the NE? I don’t know how this will affect our training. I’ll keep you posted.

Under the weather... neck injury

Mom was just getting back in the training mode after her recent loss, when I hurt my neck at the groomers. I can’t even wear a collar at this point. Mom is giving me buffered aspirin and watching me closely. If the pain worsens we are headed to the emergency room. Otherwise... I am going to the vet on Monday.

Rest in Peace J Mayhem

No training since last Thursday. Mom’s 19 year old baby brother walked into the arms of the Lord on Friday November 18th 2005. May his soul find eternal happiness!!!!! So many loved you… we will never know why you chose to leave us… your song will be sadly missed. I love you!

I've Got Grip

We are still working on building my drive, focus and grip. My prey drive has come along way from zero when I arrived in August (mom seems pleased with my progress) and my endurance is good. Mom can’t out last me. My out… is excellent!

Our major obstacle now is:

I spit the toy when the fight is over. I reengage immediately when the prey is put back into motion... but mom wants me to hold it. I'm not sure why... and I don't think she knows the reasoning behind this. I think she is going to seek advice from her Leerburg friends. Mom keeps trying this "into my arms" move. I want to fight and she wants to hug... what's up with that? Crazy Americans.

Today, after I worked the life out of mom I got to give Dad a shot. Mom's force is limited by the fact that she's a girl and she wanted Dad to put some real force into the fight.

Click on the link below to view a 15 second clip of my grip work. The heavy panting in the background isn’t me… it’s mom getting ready to drop from exhaustion. (Wimp)


Video My Grip

Old Habits Die Hard

Two big boxes arrived for me today. One from Leerburg.com that contained some new drive building toys, a scratch apron, DVD's for mom Julia and a new SchH1 dumbbell for me. Mom Julia bought me the SchH3 dumbbell already... but didn't realize the smaller dumbbell is used for the jumps and wall. She’s still learning.

The second box was from digit.com which contained my favorite smokehouse treats, which mom says is $15.00 cheaper for a 20oz canister of chicken tenders then the local Petco or Pet Smart. You gotta love a thrifty woman who knows the quickest way to my heart.

In spite of the new videos mom could have watched… she sat down and watched the Finks, building drive and focus again for the 3rd time. I knew then and there where this day was headed.

Armed with a new arsenal of toys... Mom gave me the choice. I was offered the ball on a string or my favorite plush squirrel. I choose the Squirrel. I was offered the Squirrel or a tug. I choose the squirrel. I was offered the squirrel and the SchH1 dumbbell... and the choice was Crystal Clear... I wanted the dumbbell. I have to admit old compulsive habits die hard.

I could tell mom was disappointed in my choice... but I’m trying. Mom says we will work some more on drive building. She doesn’t have the nerves for the whole force method, and from the other side of the leash… I appreciate that.

Building Drive and Focus

I must admit when I first arrived in the US it took several weeks for me to acclimate to my new surroundings. I arrived in heat with a urinary infection which in itself can make any dog a bit sluggish. Mom Julia was concerned that I might be depressed so she called a local animal behaviorist who suggested she bring me to a protection class. He thought the atmosphere might be familiar and help ease my anxiety.

That was the BEST advice EVER. Wow… when I saw the sleeve and suit come out… I knew my fate wasn’t doomed and my owner got a good glimpse of a happy dog. I had a grin from Ear-to-Ear that was unmistakable. This one class was the turning point in our relationship and I knew from that moment on… I was not destined to be a "just family pet". THANK THE DOGGY GODS.

My prior training was rather forceful and harsh. Prey and play drive were not encouraged in my development. Mom Julia kept introducing all these crazy round things, noisy things, flying things and would say: bring the ball, bring the Frisbee… bring… bring… bring… but I couldn’t find the dumbbell. I was looking but couldn’t find it. I was starting to think this lady was crazy… until one day it all started to make sense. First she rolled me a round thing filled with cream cheese. How could I resist that… yummy. Then she made this big fuss. I wasn’t sure exactly what I did right but as long as it wasn’t doing something wrong I wasn’t gonna argue about it. The next time she rolled the ball past me. When I got up to get it… it was like Christmas. She was hugging me and kissing me and praising me and I have to admit... I am kind of liking all this “praise and attention”

To cut a long story short… over the course of the last six weeks I learned that playing was fun and it was okay to relax. My previous owners taught me a lot fast. I have a lot to thank them for. I got my SchH3 at 2 years 4 months… but fun wasn’t a big part of it.

I think I am really starting to like the American family.

Click on the links below to view two of my driving building videos. I still have a long way to go… but I think it is starting to make a little sense.


Video One

Maine Schutzhund Trial

Finally… my owner and I attended the Maine Schutzhund Trial this weekend and although I was only a spectator (darn it)… we made some great connections in the community and mom Julia has a trip planned for us to visit Raino Fluegge’s training weekend in Canada.


Special thanks to:

Chris Harriman
Deanna Thompson (Mom Julia needs to teach her how to spell Tompson) :-)
Angie Cangiano
Judy Knapp (? )
Raino Fluegge
Rachel and Petter Haslett.

For all their help and support, especially Ranio Fluegge who let me have a real bite and gave my owner solid advice. He said I was a fine dog. (hey I knew that).

My First Bite In 3 Months

I am Marsha von der Ernetranch. I was imported from Germany in August 2005 by my current owner, Julia Tompson. Initially I was relocated to the US to serve as a beloved family member… but after a little coaxing I have convinced my owner to give the sport of Schutzhund try. I have to say… my big brown eyes were hard for her to resist. :-)_

Vidoes of m first bite

video 1

video 2